Puppy Training Package

Designed with puppy development in mind, this package covers the socialization basics as well as foundational training. To take advantage of critical windows of learning, this package is for puppies between the ages of 8-16 weeks (2-4 months). Ensure your new puppy has a positive experience in a new space, with well-socialized dogs, and begin their training journey.

Package Inclusions:

1 Meet n’ Greet Socialization Session (45 minutes)
1 Follow Up Socialization Session (30 minutes)
3 Private Training Sessions (1 hour each)
Access to Puppy School curriculum resources (print outs, homework pages, and video tutorials)

Our Socialization Sessions provide a positive space for your puppy to play and explore off leash with adult dogs. The first session is a 45 minute Meet n’ Greet to meet Chris and the Puppy Mentor Dogs! At first, your puppy will acclimate to the training space with freedom before meeting other dogs. Patience, agency, and body language reading promote confidence around new situations, clear communication with other dogs, and emotional regulation.

Private sessions with Chris will cover all your burning puppy questions! Challenges like biting, jumping, leash walking, potty and crate training are all covered. Our BlueDog Puppy School curriculum and foundational training skills set you and your pup up for success. At BlueDog, we use clicker/marker training and positive reinforcement methodologies for efficient and sustainable training.

One-Stop Shop for Puppy Basics

New puppy challenges like potty training and biting can be hard to handle on your own! Being terrorized by shark teeth sometimes requires individualized support from a certified trainer. We’re happy to give you the steps and skills to save your hands and ankles. Not all redirection strategies are the same, and not all puppies have the same reinforcers. Our trainers can help you discover the best way to handle stressful puppy situations.

With so much to cover in terms of raising a happy puppy, our training package covers it all. BlueDog training fills in the training gaps with preventative and proactive strategies to set your puppy’s future up for success.

Our Puppy Curriculum

All of our curriculums were curated by founder and co-owner of BlueDog, Kim Palermo. With almost 20 years of experience in the dog industry, Kim has developed her passion for kind and effective training. Kim is an FDSA instructor, Certified Control Unleashed Instructor, and ACE (Animal Centered Education) Practitioner. With so many fields of knowledge to pull from, you can expect to learn about:

Underlying emotional regulation for puppies and adolescents
Foundational training skills like marker training 101 and how our puppies learn
Basic obedience and training communication
Management strategies for common puppy challenges like: biting, jumping, leash walking, potty and crate training
Pattern games for fun learning, leash walking, and polite greetings
Facilitating positive experiences to have a well-mannered, happy and confident dog in the future
Socialization and what it truly means for your pup

By starting with a Puppy Training Package, you’ll be one step ahead if you continue your learning at our group membership classes. Practice your skills around other puppies and handlers, and learn from our diverse team of trainers for different training styles.

Not sure what service is best for you and your puppy? Please reach out to us at 978-208-7933 or hello@bluedogpetcare.com; we’d be happy to help!

How old does my puppy need to be?

Puppies between the ages of 2-4 months/8-16 weeks are eligible for the Puppy Training Package.

If your puppy is between 4-6 months old, we recommend our group puppy classes and socialization sessions.

For pups older than 6 months, we recommend filling out our inquiry form to get the best recommendation of services.

Do you hold sessions at my home?

Our Puppy Training Package currently only takes place at our training facility in Stadium Plaza (Lawrence, MA). This is to provide a neutral and spacious environment that's safe for play, and effective for training. Without any open doorways, sharp corners, or unseen areas, the training space is optimized for easy visuals, spreading out novel items, and movement. If you're interested in in-home private training, we'd be happy to pair you with a trainer after getting all of the relevant information in our intake form.

What is socialization and why is it so important?

We like to think of socialization as the crucial developmental process where we teach our puppies to be optimists! When puppies are between the ages of roughly 3-16 weeks, their brains are primed to make lasting connections: good and bad. It’s so incredibly important to ensure positive experiences with new people, places, things, sounds, textures, and more to instill curiosity rather than fear. Chris’ blog on socialization is a must read! We also follow the wise advice of the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior in regards to the importance of socialization as it pertains to vaccine schedules and future behavioral challenges.

What vaccinations do you require?

We follow the advise of the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior that states: "it should be the standard of care for puppies to receive such socialization before they are fully vaccinated." Therefore, we do not have vaccination requirements for socialization sessions other than what is legally required.

You can rest assured that we prioritize health and sanitation here at BlueDog that includes frequent washing of water bowls, equipment, and supplies, and take care of our potty area. Our facility is cleaned daily and sanitized weekly.

What's the difference between social sessions and private sessions?

During your social sessions, your puppy will be off leash in the training space with one or more of the puppy mentor dogs. The emphasis of these sessions is on dog-to-dog interactions, confidence building, and body language reading.

In your private sessions, you'll be working with your dog in the space without other dogs around. This will also involve the use of a clicker, your treat pouch, and you'll be working on skills like pattern games, basic manners, and more. As the handler, you're learning how to train your dog!